Mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs, meant for use in various legs of tables, desks, cupboards, spreaders, frames, supports, and other structural elements of furniture, in which it is desirable to quickly and easily regulate length, characterised in that it is made in the form of interacting, incrementally sliding and rotating external element ( 1 ) threaded inside and a telescopic collapsing internal element ( 2 ), which comprises a blocking-locking assembly for interacting with the thread of the external element ( 1 ) preferably in the form of a blocking element ( 3 ) as well as a locking element with an unlocking tooth ( 4   a ) wherein the blocking element ( 3 ) is friction inserted under the locking element with unlocking tooth ( 4   a ) by the stabilising flange of the external element ( 5   a ) and unlocked by the unlocking tooth of the locking element ( 4   a ) or in the form of a blocking element ( 3 ) interacting with the locking ring ( 4 ) sliding onto it, and the locking ring ( 4 ) is slid off using the retracting pin ( 7 ).

The subject of the present invention is a mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs, for use in various types of legs in tables, desks, cupboards, supports, spreaders, lattices, tripods, stands and various other structural elements of furniture, in which the regulation of length is desirable.

A height regulator known from Polish patent application PL.292985, is equipped with a hood made of a single sheet of metal. The external thread of a screw is divided in into a long part and a short part by peripheral milling. The yoke of the foot is monolithic and is affixed permanently to the support plate of the foot such that its long axis is parallel to one of the diagonals of the support plate and it is located symmetrically with respect to the other diagonal of the support plate. A telescopic column known from Polish utility model PL.60149, is characterised in that the intermediate sheath is guided lengthwise in relation to the immobile sheath via a guide in the immobile sheath and placed in the groove of the intermediate sheath. On the external bolt which protrudes beyond the sheath there is an indicator of the position of the closing valve. The working column terminates at the bottom with a flange located in an indentation of the flange of the fixed column. In the upper portion of the fixed column there are blocking elements. The column is equipped with seals. A regulated leg with height regulation, particularly for frameless metal furniture used in food processing and in gastronomy is known from Polish utility model PL.95926, and is characterised in that it consists of a screw in the form of a threaded rod fixed in the bottom of the upper element , whose cross-section is a closed profile whose opening is oriented downward, wherein a lower pipe element is threaded onto the lower end of the rod and the element has a foot of elastic material, and an elastic seal is found between the upper and lower element. A desk leg, known from Polish utility model application No. PL.107438, comprises a threaded cylinder inside a pipe, onto which a length of pipe is threaded that is affixed inside a base. In the base there are two rows of vertically oriented holes. The desk leg makes it possible to precisely regulate its length over the length of the threaded cylinder. A furniture leg, known from another Polish utility model application, No. PL.113190, is built out of a length of aluminium angle. One of the ends of this angle has a plate meant for mounting the leg onto the surface of furniture. The other end has a lid attached using screws. The lid has a coaxial, threaded aperture with a screw threaded there into. The head of the screw is protected all around with a sheath in the form of a sliding aluminium profile set movably on the external surface of the angle. A leg, particularly for furniture, is known from Polish utility model application No. PL.95062, and consists of a screw set in a hollow cylinder, wherein the hollow cylinder has a flange and longitudinal protrusions. The flange is located on the side of the screw and is provided with a nut. The screw head is sunk into a block of plastic in the form of a cylinder whose height is less than the diameter. Another leg, particularly for furniture, known from the Polish utility model application No. PL.102779, consists of a screw with a thread that is preferably trapezoidal and symmetric, which ends with a footer at the bottom approximately cylinder-shaped with a flat bottom, with four separate segments in the shape of sections of the cylinder, their surfaces forming a uniform vertical waved surface. The screw element interacts with the sleeve, the outer flange at the bottom which acts upon the lower surface of the base legs of thread on the third inner surface forming a bottom and four vertical, outer fins evenly radially distributed on the circumference, cooperating with vertical grooves made on the inside forming a central slot in the sleeve-shaped base, with an inside diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve, with vertical, radial fins interacting with the nest on the surface of the base. A leg with adjustable height, particularly for furniture, is known from Polish utility model application No. PL.109555, characterized in that the upper part is a single mould in the shape of an inverted foot, built at the bottom in the form of a sleeve with internal thread and at the top in the form of a sleeve with a top ring. The lower legs are in the form of screws and are made of two fixed parts, the outer sleeve of the fastener and a ring foot.

In light of the above cited prior art, the goal of the present solution is to allow the user to easily incrementally adjust the length of all legs simultaneously through the use of relatively low force or by lifting. This problem usually occurs in the use of tables or stands, for example in a desktop cradle for the computer monitor. Furthermore, it is desirable for the mechanism to have precise micro-regulation of each individual leg length. This second, complementary way to regulate the length would improve the comfort with the amount of furniture to match individual needs. The individual adjustment of each leg would also help to match the length of each leg on the bottom of furniture or objects placed on uneven ground, as is the case for a camera tripod, where there is often a need to set it on uneven ground. Unexpectedly, the present invention resolves these problems.

The present invention is a Mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs, characterized by the fact that is made in the form interacting, incrementally rotatable and sliding external elements threaded on the inside and a telescopically-collapsing internal element entering it, which consists of a blocking-locking assembly to interact with the threaded outer element. Preferably, the assembly consists of at least one blocking element interacting therewith and at least one locking element with an unlocking tooth. The blocking element is pressed into the locking element with an unlocking tooth via a stabilizing flange of the external element and unlocked by the unlocking tooth of the locking element. Preferably, the blocking-locking assembly consists of at least one blocking element interacting with the locking ring sliding onto it, which is retracted by a retracting pin. Equally preferentially, the mechanism according to the present invention is characterized in that the external element has a stabilizing flange and the internal element has a stabilizing flange which preferably has at least one retracting pin movably positioned on a spring. In the next, equally preferable embodiment according to the present invention, the mechanism is characterized in that inside the outer element and the inner element is a spring, blocked at end by the mounting element, and at the other end is supported on the nut.

Equally preferably, a mechanism according to the present invention is characterized in that the nut is moved axially by a screw adjusting the spring pressure, which is supported on the foot. Preferably, a Mechanism according to the present invention is characterized in that the mounting element is set into the outer element and the foot is set in the internal element. Equally preferably, the mechanism according to the present invention is characterized in that the mounting element is fixed to the working surface of the stand for a computer monitor that is equipped with at least one leg.

For example, a mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs according to the present invention is made as a telescoping assembly, consisting of an internal and external element, preferably of circular cross-section, while the internal element slides smoothly in a continuous manner in the external one.

The external element possesses on its inside a thread for interacting with the blocking-locking assembly. The assembly consists of at least one blocking element, preferentially set in the internal element of the telescoping assembly, which facilitates rapid, incremental regulation of length. The use of a thread makes it possible to precisely regulate the length through the rotation of the internal element. The blocking-locking assembly with a blocking element interacts with a locking ring, which facilitates locking and unlocking of the blocking element. After attaining the maximum protrusion of the internal element, the ring locks the blocking element by sliding onto it by friction, which facilitates the free movement of the internal element into the second, extreme position with respect to the external element=maximum contraction of the leg. In this position, the locking ring slides off freeing the blocking element by at least one retracting pin movably mounted, preferably on a spring, in the internal element flange. From this position, the length regulation process begins anew. Inside the telescopic assembly there is an assisting spring, which facilitates the extension of the internal element, which is blocked from two sides, wherein at one end there is a spring pressure regulator in the form of a screw. For example, the mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs according to the present invention is made in the form of a telescopic assembly comprising an internal and external element, preferably of a circular cross-section, wherein the internal element slides smoothly along the external one. The external element possesses a thread inside for interacting with the blocking-locking assembly. The blocking-locking assembly comprises at least one blocking element as well as at least one locking element with an unlocking tooth interacting with it. The blocking element slides incrementally along the thread of the external element and after attaining the maximum extension of the leg, in its extreme position, it is pushed under the locking element by the stabilising flange of the external element, which, following a slight modification of the first version of the present invention, replaces the eliminated locking ring. From this moment, the length regulation process begins anew, wherein it is set by a slight motion in the opposite direction, causing the unlocking of the blocking element using the interaction of the unlocking tooth with the thread. In the telescopic assembly there is an ancillary spring which facilitates the extension of the internal element, blocked on two sides on one side of which there is a pressure regulator in the form of a screw. The use of a mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs, facilitates a rapid, incremental change in the length of a leg and the precise regulation using rotation.

The subject of the present invention is as embodied is shown in the figures, where

FIG. 1 shows a mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs, where the blocking-locking assembly comprises a blocking element, a locking ring and a retracting pin used in a furniture leg,

FIG. 2 shows a blocking element and its interacting locking ring at maximum extension,

FIG. 3 shows a blocking-locking assembly comprising a blocking element and its interacting locking element with unlocking tooth,

FIG. 4 shows the blocking element and its interacting locking element in the position pressed underneath the locking element with unlocking tooth,

FIG. 5 shows a support, holder for a computer monitor with legs equipped with a mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs.

EXAMPLE I

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs used in furniture legs, comprising an external pipe 1 and internal pipe 2, wherein the internal pipe slides out of the external one. The external pipe 1 possesses a thread on the inside, along which moves the blocking element 3 set in the internal pipe 2 regulating the length incrementally and finely regulating by rotation. The blocking element 3 interacts with the locking ring 4 which slides with friction onto the blocking element following the attainment of the maximum extension of the internal pipe 2. The external pipe 1 possesses a stabilising flange 5, and the internal pipe 2 possesses a stabilising flange 6. Inside the stabilising flange 6 of the internal pipe 2 there is a movable, spring-mounted retracting pin 7 which is used to slide of the locking ring. Pipe 1 and pipe 2 contain a spring on the inside 8, blocked at one end by the mounting element 9 fixed to the external pipe 1, and at the other end it is supported on the nut 10 of the screw 11 that regulates spring pressure, which is supported on the foot 12.

EXAMPLE II

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs made as in example one with the difference that it is used in a camera tripod.

EXAMPLE III

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs made as in example one with the difference that it is used in the framework of a garden umbrella.

EXAMPLE IV

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs made as in example one with the difference that instead of spring 8 there is an actuator arm which transfers torque from a motor.

EXAMPLE V

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs made as in example one with the difference that locking ring 4 and retracting pin 7 are eliminated from the mechanism. The mechanism comprises a blocking element 3 and its interacting locking element with unlocking tooth 4 a. The function of the eliminated locking ring 4 is taken over by the stabilising flange of the external element 5 a following a slight modification of the shape as well as a locking element with an unlocking tooth 4 a. The function of the eliminated retracting pin 7 is taken over by locking element 4 a due to the fact that it possesses an unlocking tooth.

EXAMPLE VI

A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs made as in example one or five with the difference that it is used in a stand, support for a computer monitor, which is equipped with at least one leg.

FIGURE LEGEND

1. external element of the mechanism,

2. internal element of the mechanism,

3. blocking element,

4. locking ring,

4 a. locking element with unlocking tooth

5. stabilising flange of the external element,

5 a. stabilising flange of the external element,

6. stabilising flange of the internal element,

7. retracting pin,

8. spring,

9. mounting element,

10. nut,

11. screw for regulating spring pressure,

12. foot,

13. surface of a monitor holder

14. leg equipped with the mechanism 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A mechanism for regulating length, particularly of furniture legs, characterized in that it is made in the form of interacting, incrementally sliding and rotating external element (1) threaded inside and a telescopic collapsing internal element (2), which comprises a blocking-locking assembly for interacting with the thread of the external element (1) preferably in the form of a blocking element (3) as well as a locking element with an unlocking tooth (4 a) wherein the blocking element (3) is friction inserted under the locking element with unlocking tooth (4 a) by the stabilising flange of the external element (5 a) and unlocked by the unlocking tooth of the locking element (4 a) or in the form of a blocking element (3) interacting with the locking ring (4) sliding onto it, and the locking ring (4) is slid off using the retracting pin (7).
 8. A mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that external element comprises stabilising flange (5) or (5 a), and the internal element (2) comprises a stabilising flange (6), into which is affixed, preferably movably on a spring, at least one retracting pin (7).
 9. A mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that inside the external (1) and internal (2) elements there is a spring (8) blocked at one end by the mounting element (9), and at the other end resting on a nut (10).
 10. A mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that inside the external (1) and internal (2) elements there is a spring (8) blocked at one end by the mounting element (9), and at the other end resting on a nut (10).
 11. A mechanism according to claim 7 characterized in that the nut (10) is moved axially by a spring pressure-regulating screw (11), which is supported on a foot (12).
 12. A mechanism according to claim 10 characterized in that the nut (10) is moved axially by a spring pressure-regulating screw (11), which is supported on a foot (12).
 13. A mechanism according to claim 11 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is set in the external element (1), and the foot (12) is set in the internal element (2).
 14. A mechanism according to claim 12 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is set in the external element (1), and the foot (12) is set in the internal element (2).
 15. A mechanism according to claim 9 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is fixed to the surface of a computer monitor support (13), which is equipped with at least one leg (14).
 16. A mechanism according to claim 10 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is fixed to the surface of the computer monitor support (13), which is equipped with at least one leg (14).
 17. A mechanism according to claim 11 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is fixed to the surface of the computer monitor support (13), which is equipped with at least one leg (14).
 18. A mechanism according to claim 12 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is fixed to the surface of the computer monitor support (13), which is equipped with at least one leg (14).
 19. A mechanism according to claim 1 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is fixed to the surface of the computer monitor support (13), which is equipped with at least one leg (14).
 20. A mechanism according to claim 2 characterized in that the mounting element (9) is fixed to the surface of the computer monitor support (13), which is equipped with at least one leg (14). 